AUPSC convenes 1136th session to discuss the situation in Libya

1 February 2023 | The AUPSC convened its 1136th session to discuss the situation in Libya. The session which was chaired by the Permanent Representative of South Africa, AUPSC Chair of the month of February, Ambassador Edward Xolisa Makaya, and received statements from the AU PAPS Commissioner, Bankole Adeoye, represented by Ambassador Wahida Ayari; the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AUC to Libya; the Representative of the State of Libya; and a Representative of the AU High-Level Committee (HCL) on Libya. The session also received statements from the Representatives of the Libya Contact Group as well as neighboring countries, namely: Egypt, Algeria, Chad, Congo, South Africa, Tunisia, and Niger. The Representative of the North Africa Regional Capability (NARC) and the SRSG to the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Professor Abdullahi Bathily, also delivered statements. Read full article here. 

In a communique issued following the meeting, the AUPSC, among others, commended the Libyan Authorities for the positive political developments being witnessed in the country; welcomed the appointment of Mr. Abdoulaye Bathily as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Libya and Head of the UNSML; commended the sustained efforts of the AU High-Level Committee for Libya led by H.E. President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo and the support of Libya’s neighboring countries for the Libyan-owned political process. The AUPSC expressed deep concern over the continued violations of the UN arms embargo and the delays in the withdrawal of foreign fighters and foreign forces, including mercenaries threatening to reverse the gains achieved. It reiterated the call for the international community to fully adhere with the Ceasefire Agreement, and strongly condemned and rejected the continuous external interferences in the domestic affairs of Libya. It stressed the importance of enhanced coordination and complementarity of efforts among the AU, the UN, the EU, the League of Arab States (LAS), as well as the rest of the international community and participants of the Berlin Process. Furthermore, it decided to undertake a PSC field mission to Libya to express AU solidarity with the Libyan people and to engage all key stakeholders on the ground; and agreed to dedicate a PSC meeting on Libya at the level of AU Heads of State and Government in the margins of the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in February 2023. Read the full communique here.

AUPSC holds its 1137th meeting on the situation in Sudan

6 February 2023 | The AUPSC convened its 1137th meeting to address developments in the Republic of Sudan. The session was opened by Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa. The opening remarks were followed by a statement from AU PAPS Commissioner Bankole Adeoye, the Executive Secretary of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, and the SRSG to the AU and Head of UNOAU. The statements highlighted the latest developments in Sudan since the last PSC meeting on this topic held on 2 November 2022.   

In a Communique issued following the meeting, the AUPSC, among others, renewed its call for the formation of a broad-based civilian-led government headed by a Prime Minister appointed by consensus; welcomed the signing of a “Political Framework Agreement” and official launch of the “Final Phase of the Political Process” in Sudan; and called upon the military to fully adhere to their commitment to withdraw from transition government institutions. It called on all political parties and groups that are yet to sign the Political Framework Agreement to do so in the collective and supreme interest of the Sudanese people. The AUPSC commended the establishment and work of the UN-AU-IGAD Trilateral Mechanism and appealed for the Mechanism to maintain its “equidistance from all the Sudanese stakeholders, in order to enhance its credibility, integrity and effectiveness as a facilitator”. It reaffirmed its continued commitment to support the ongoing political process in the Sudan to ensure the sustainability of the final solution and expedited return to constitutional order; reiterated the call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political detainees and reiterated the AUPSC’s decision to undertake a field mission of the PSC to Sudan. Read the full communique here.

AUC Chairperson expresses condolences to the peoples of Türkiye and Syria over the earthquake that hit parts of both countries

7 February 2023 | Chairperson of the AU Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat, issued a statement expressing condolences to the governments and peoples of Türkiye and Syria, after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit parts of the two countries. Read the full statement here.

AU launches the African Network of Think Tanks for Peace (NeTT4Peace)

8 February 2023 | The AUC issued a press release announcing the launch of the AU Network of Think Tanks for Peace (NeTT4Peace). This Network of Think Tanks for Peace is an initiative of the AUC Department for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) that intends to drive the strategic partnership between the research community and the Department in the area of governance, peace and security.  Read the full press release here.

Monitoring the Implementation of Peace Agreement for Northern Ethiopia - Joint Committee inaugurated by the African Union

10 February 2023 | The Joint Committee (JC) for implementing and monitoring the “Agreement for Lasting Peace in Ethiopia through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities” held its inaugural meeting at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Chaired by Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, the Joint Committee comprises representatives of the Parties and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The Committee took stock of progress made in implementing the Peace Agreement and considered the operations of the Monitoring Verification and Compliance Mechanism (MVCM) deployed to Mekelle, comprising the Team of African Experts and Liaison Officers of the Parties. Read the full article here.

AUC Chairperson issues statement following working visit to Sudan

13 February 2023 | AUC Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat issued a statement informing that he concluded a two-day working visit to Khartoum from 12 to 13 February. During his visit, the Chairperson met with a diverse group of national political and social stakeholders, including the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council, the Trilateral Mechanism and the African Group of Ambassadors. The Chairperson noted with satisfaction the positive developments currently underway between stakeholders. He expressed the hope that such developments will lead to the finalisation of a consensual political agreement towards the formation of a civilian-led government, and the eventual organisation, within a reasonable timetable, of credible elections. Read the full statement here.

Launch of the African Union Election Observation Mission to the 25 February 2023 General Elections in the Federal Republic of Nigeria

14 February 2023 | The African Union Commission (AUC) announced the launch of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) to the 25 February 2023 General Elections in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by former President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. The short-term election observation mission comprises of ninety members drawn from various AU Member States, supported by a team of experts from the AUC. Read the full article here.

AUPSC holds its 1140th meeting at the level of the Heads of State and Government on the situation in the Eastern DRC

17 February 2023 | The AUPSC held its 1140th meeting at the level of the Heads of State and Government on the situation in the Eastern DRC under the theme ‘Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region and the deployment of the East African Community (EAC) Regional Force’. The meeting was opened by the President of the Republic of South Africa and Chairperson of the AUPSC for February 2023, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa; and by the AUC Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat.

The session further received statements by the President of the DRC and Chairperson of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo; the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame; President of the Republic of Burundi and Chairperson of the EAC, Évariste Ndayishimiye,; the President of the Republic of Angola and ICGLR Chairperson, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço; and by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.

Following the session, the AUPSC issued a communique expressing concern over the tensions between the DRC and Rwanda and calling for calm and greater dialogue between the two countries. It further called for the urgent revitalization of the Framework Agreement, emphasizing the individual and collective need of the signatory countries to redouble their efforts to fully implement the national and regional commitments enshrined in the agreement. In this context, the communique requested the AU, in collaboration with EAC, ECCAS, SADC, ICGLR, and the UN to urgently work towards the revitalization of the Framework Agreement and report back to the Council, within six weeks. It further endorsed the final communique of the Mini-Summit of the EAC and ICGLR on Peace and Security in the Eastern Region of the DRC, held on 17 February in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and urged for the expeditious implementation of the outcomes of the Luanda and Nairobi processes. Read the full communique here.  

AUC Chairperson condemns the racial statements on fellow Africans in Tunisia

24 February 2023 | AUC Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat issued a press release strongly condemning the statement issued by Tunisian authorities targeting fellow Africans, noting that the remarks go against the letter and spirit of the AU and its founding principles. Read the full press release here.

AU Election Observation Mission to Nigeria issues preliminary statement

27 February 2023 | AU Election Observation Mission to the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the Federal Republic of Nigeria issued its preliminary statement. The statement offered a summary of its key findings and recommendations on the electoral process up to the closing of the polls and counting of the votes and was issued while the collation of election results was still ongoing. The statement noted that the electoral environment was generally peaceful despite isolated incidents of violence.

In its statement, the mission underlined that significant reforms were a key feature of the 2023 general elections, noting that some of the reforms resulted from recommendations offered in previous AU observation missions. The mission commended the INEC on the measures taken to promote greater participation in the electoral process, including giving priority to the elderly, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups, but noted the very low number of candidates representing women, youth and people with disabilities. The mission will continue to closely follow the electoral process and provide a detailed final report at a later stage. Read the full preliminary statement here.